The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-17
THE BRAIN 10 BIZ PALSIgD
, NOHR OTHRR THAN ADJUTAfT
3 GENERAL DRUM'S-
II Was He Who First Suggested
IL, and the President and
Cabinet
CONCEDED TIE PROPERTY IN A
LIGHT WAY.
ssThs Order Oae OF the Bravest,
Wisest and Most Patriotic
Actions Ever Performed"

WASHINGTON June 16.-Adjutant
General Drum is the only person in
authority here who appears disposed
10 talk about the order relative to the
return Of the rebel flags. He has 3
coed right 10 speak, for 1t i, quite GER
tain that the idea originated with him.
Gen. Drum has these trophies In bis
charge. What bis share In the matter
is can, perhaps, be best learned from
the following interview:
Question. Gen. Drum, you are to
return to the Southern States all the
Gage, standards and colors which were
captured by the Union army from The
Coniederates during the war;
Answer. We are going to return
them 10 oil the States North and
South. The President has recon-.
nended that IL be done. / am now
having full lists made OF all these
trophies in possession OF the depart.
ment. In As1ort time we shall have
the whole collection so assorted and
separated that We shall be ready
10 forward to every State In the
Union whatever a, gs belonged to State
volunteers which fell into the hands OF
the Federal army and into the posses
sion the War Department. AN hav-
ing complete inventory OF them
made cut with written statements t.
tell brit fly, as far as known, the hlsto-
ny of each trophy and the story Of
how II came to be captured. All OF
this literature and the trophies will be
ready to be forwarded TO their owners
In few dsys. When the President
expressed mis- approval OF this propo-
sit'on, he did 20 in writing. The AID.
infant did not give direct answer to
this question, but intimsted that pos
sibly when the last OF the A gs were
retul ned and the stories were given to
the public, the letter from President
Cleveland on the subject might also be
made public
wien d d the President determine
that these q "a should be returnedf"
During the week OF the National
drill. This action ia not due to any
pressure or any suggestion from any
outside source. The idea originated
with The administration. 1t has been
In contemplation In the department
for some considerable time.
Gen. Drum, of course, speaks only OF
the President In regard TO this action. |
An oflioisl at the White Honse
authorised 10 speak on the subject
said this morning: "Gen. Dram
seems to be the person TO talk about
this matter. There hes been no order
or any paper OF any kind signed by
the President relative to IL. The idea
originated in the department and has
been carried out by the department.
But ths action OF the department 10
approved here, and that seems to be
about all there 10 to say about It,"
None OF the Cabinet ofhcera who |
were appro acht d desired TO say any
thing on the su hject, as 1t was not un-
der their deparl mentS. TIE Secretary |
Of War was not accessible this morn
ing. There il 10 doubt, however,, that
the President and his Osbioet gave
their formal assent to the original suR-
gestion OF Adjutant General Drum.
A dispatch from this city to the
Baltimore SGn of this morning quotes
"a gentleman Of Prominence in politi-
cal eirclse," probably Secretary
Bayard), as ia ying: "rhe order ia one
OF the braves, wiseBt, and most pa
tris,ic actions ever performed by the
executive OF q great people. By a
stroke Of his pen the President has
done more to unto the States and con-
Arm the Union than al precedent
proclamations and legislation. There
never can be- a united reople so long
% the conquerers In civil war glory |
ever the conquered, aud ANYTHING
which keeps alive the feeling Of once
existing sectional hatred should be
wiped out. The act Of the President
il brave, because 1t bias always aroused
the rage of tho professional office
seeking soldiers organizations aud the
partisan jour lals, watch seem In many
cases to have no other excuse for
being than to keep alive and bequeath
from father to son never dying spirit
af hairad